Emerald Starling

A distinctive dove with a restricted range. The white wing patches are usually visible when perched, and become very conspicuous in flight. A white eye-ring is conspicuous at close range. Found locally in riverside scrub, thickets, and adjacent habitats. Similar overall to Ring-necked Dove, but separated by the white eye-ring, gray breast, and white wing patches. The song is a fast-paced, quickly repeated rolling series of cooing notes with a somewhat rough, churring quality.

A beautiful and colorful grosbeak-like bird with slate gray upperparts, black mask and bill, immaculate white eyebrow and throat, and rich salmon-buff underparts. Sexes similar. Fairly common, in pairs or small groups foraging for fruits and flowers, as well as insects. Mostly in dry regions with bushes and scattered trees, gallery forest edges and savanna. Loud and melodic song with three variants, often given in duet. Found only in Colombia and Venezuela.

A very rare medium-sized ground dove of lowland and foothill forest floor on Mindoro. Iridescent bluish on the head and back of the neck, with a purplish back, a blackish wing with white triangular marks on the shoulder, a white throat and underparts, and a small red “bleeding heart” in the center of the chest. Unlikely to be mistaken if seen well. The only other dove likely to flush from the ground would be Asian Emerald Dove. Apparently gives a low “croo croo” call.